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50 Cent Files $1M Lawsuit Over Internet Ad
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 By: Kenny Rodriguez
50 Cent has filed a $1 million lawsuit against an Internet-based company for a banner ad that invites online visitors to “Shoot The Rapper,” referring to an alleged caricature of the multi-platinum rapper.
The online ad, developed by Traffix Inc., urges web surfers to “Shoot The Rapper” and “win $5,000 or five free ring-tones guaranteed.”
After pointing-and-clicking on the animated cartoon, seemingly a 50 Cent look-a-like, the link opens to an affiliate website.
Before striking it big, 50 Cent – born Curtis Jackson – was shot nine times in a 2000 drive-by outside of his grandmother’s house in Queens. Since then, the rap superstar’s name has become synonymous with hip-hop related shootings.
The lawsuit claims that the banner ad displays a “vile, tasteless and despicable” depiction of 50 Cent, and “literally calls for violence again him.”
Traffix Inc.’s lawyer, Ezio Scaldaferri, told reporters that he had not yet seen the suit and couldn’t comment.
50 Cent’s attorney, Peter Raymond, added that Traffix is exploiting his client’s well-known violent history by implying that the G-Unit recording artist endorses the ad.
“For all those reasons, he is personally offended,” Raymond said, adding that 50 Cent learned of the advertisement when a member of his management crew spotted it while surfing on MySpace.com.
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